Happy early Father’s Day!
This weekend, without a doubt, the world (and all of Facebook) will take time to recognize fathers. Some may write extra-long posts explaining how their strong, loving, Christian fathers have impacted their lives for the better. Meanwhile, others may be confused about how to celebrate the day. Instead, they may choose to thank their father-like figures such as neighbors, mentors, pastors, grandfathers, uncles, or even older siblings who stepped up and filled the role that their birth father didn't.
But as I began thinking about this day and what it represents, I couldn’t help but think back to the fathers mentioned in the Bible. A few include:
- Abraham
- Adam
- Jacob
- God
- Job
- Issac
- Joseph
The list could go on!
But this year, a specific father noted in Luke 15 caught my attention.
The father of the prodigal.
In this parable, Jesus tells us the story of a father whose son chose worldly wealth over him and his family. But instead of commanding his son to stay put and forgo giving him the money he asked for, the father did as his son requested.
And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. (Luke 15:11-13, NASB1995) Emphasis added.
Meanwhile, back at the family home, his father remained. He stayed, waiting and hoping that someday his lost son would be found. He desired to joyfully wrap his arms around his boy once again.
However, while waiting, he didn’t search for the boy. He didn’t go and enable his sinful passions. Instead, he waited for his baby boy to realize the errors of his ways and come home – completely done with the ways of the world.
This Father’s Day, there are fathers in the same position as the one Jesus mentioned in Luke. Rather than planning BBQs and Sunday lunches, they wait, hope, and pray for their once-little ones to return home.
Today, those same Christian fathers are trying to navigate how to biblically love and care for their children amid their squandering. They are daily battling whether or not they should tolerate their child’s biblical disobedience to receive the love and affection they miss and desire.
To those fathers, I hope they find solace in verse 20.
So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
When it was all said and done, the son realized there was no place like his father’s house.
He ran home.
So, prodigal father, you are not forgotten, nor is your distress and uncertainty in these moments. You serve the God who makes the rocks cry out and splits the seas. Nothing is too big for Him to accomplish.
He hears you.
Even though this holiday may look differently than you imagined when you took your little ones to VBS, the same God who spoke to them then can speak to them even now.
Keep waiting. But more importantly, keep praying for the moment you see your baby face-to-face. Get your running shoes ready.
After all, it’s the best picture of our heavenly Father’s redeeming grace.
But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15: 22-24)
